It a pity it is so hard for so many voters to grasp just what upward pressure there is structured into Govt spending. We really need STRUCTURAL restrain written into the law to just level the playing field!
Voters in CO finally did that with our TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) amendment. After years of trying to break it, with the help of big-labor-government-business, voters this year fell for a time-out from it. It was a sad state of affairs to see that happen. Now, the state legislature will have more money to waste. (Gettin awful close to your number, aren't we. LOL)